Colombo Trip Overview
Polonnaruwa has served as the capital city for nearly 2 centuries between the 11th and 13th centuries AD and is an incredible day trip destination in Sri Lanka fro anybody who visits this island! Today, this city remains one of the best archaeological relic sites, a great testimony of the discipline and greatness of the kingdom’s first ruler. This ancient city was also chosen as the location for the Duran Duran music video, featured in the film Save a Prayer in 1982. The Toque Macaques is a golden-brown colored monkey which is another highlight of the city They are known as the ‘Rilawa’ by the locals. They can be easily recognized as they have a toque-shaped swirl of hair on the top of its head. This is a hassle free all inclusive day tour therefore you do not need to worry about anything!
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 12 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa has served as the capital city for nearly 2 centuries between the 11th and 13th centuries AD and is an incredible day trip destination in Sri Lanka fro anybody who visits this island! Today, this city remains one of the best archaeological relic sites, a great testimony of the discipline and greatness of the kingdom’s first ruler. This ancient city was also chosen as the location for the Duran Duran music video, featured in the film Save a Prayer in 1982. The Toque Macaques is a golden-brown colored monkey which is another highlight of the city They are known as the ‘Rilawa’ by the locals. They can be easily recognized as they have a toque-shaped swirl of hair on the top of its head. This is a hassle free all inclusive day tour therefore you do not need to worry about anything!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The Vatadage of Polonnaruwa is the best preserved example of a circular temple, round edifices being a characteristic feature of ancient Buddhist architecture in Sri Lanka. Such circular temples contain small stupas and are therefore also called Chetiyagaras, which translates to stupa houses. Four Buddha statues in the gesture of meditation (Samadhi Mudra) are seated around it, facing the cardinal directions. Some archaeologists have suggested that the building once carried a wooden roof. The Vatadagae in Polonnaruwa has two stone platforms, they are decorated with highly elaborate stone carvings such as friezes and guardstones and moonstones.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Gal vihara is one of the most famous sites in Sri Lanka. Admire the statues, which demonstrate some of the finest examples of Sinhalese rock carving. It consists of three figures of Lord Buddha carved out of a cliff of granite. The first figure is a sitting Buddha with an artificial cavern cut out of the rock. The other two are an upright Buddha and a reclining Buddha. The reclining Buddha is 14 m (46 ft) in length.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Rankoth Vehera, Ancient Bhikku Hospital, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Rankoth Vehera was built by the King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) and is the largest stupa in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. It is about 33m in height and 170m in diameter. This stupa has constructed with the same design as the Ruwanwelisaya in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. According to a stone inscription found in the vicinity of the stupa, it was initially named as “Ruwanweli Stupa”. However, later it has come to be known as Rankoth Vehera. At each of the fours sides of the stupa, there are ruins of four gateways (“Vahalkada” in Sinhala) and image houses has built in between them.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is a square buiding with fine rock cut railing g going all around lying the Dalada Maluwa area of the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa which was built by King Nissanka Malla who reigned in the island between 1187 and 1196. The Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is often considered as Nissanka Malla’s magnum opus. In terms of the artwork, it is one of the most impressive historical places in Sri Lanka. The most important feature in this structure is the carvings of the stone pillars that are shape of a lotus stork and are curved in three places.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Samudra Parakrama, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The Parakrama Samudra is a huge manmade irrigation and greatest ever contribution to the people of Sri Lanka which was built by King Parakramabahu, the first who ruled there from 1153 AD to 1153 AD. It covers an area of 5,940 acres, hence its name, ‘Samudra’ meaning the sea. It has 11 channels directing water to feed a network of irrigation canals and smaller tanks. The northernmost reservoir is the oldest and referred to as Topa wewa built around 386 AD. The middle section Eramudu wewa and the southernmost portion, at the highest elevation, is Dumbutula wewa, both sections were added and the reservoir expanded during the reign of King Parakramabahu.
Duration: 30 minutes
